News

On the first day of the special session, committees advanced two pieces of legislation. The Joint Budget Committee advanced SB2. This sets aside $50 million from the revenue surplus for the purpose of funding a school safety grant program. The grants will help districts fund the recommendations of the School Safety Commission.   The House […]

The Governor is expected to call the General Assembly into an Extraordinary Session next week to address the use of surplus funds to provide tax relief and funding for school safety measures.The Arkansas School Safety Commission was reinstated in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.Members of the original commission created in March […]

The catfish industry is the largest component of aquaculture in the United States and a significant industry in Arkansas.  In fact, Arkansas catfish farmers contributed $19.5 million to Arkansas’s agricultural economy in 2021. That’s up 17% from the previous year.The month of August has been proclaimed as Arkansas Catfish Month.  This designation recognizes the impact […]

It is estimated that on average families will spend more than $600 per child on back-to-school shopping this year. This time of year can bring a financial burden to many families across Arkansas. That is why we want to remind you about the upcoming Arkansas Sales Tax holiday. This year, the event will begin at […]

This week, we received the Fiscal Year 2022 Revenue Summary. It shows we ended the last fiscal year with the largest surplus in state history.It is likely we will convene for a special session in August to address additional tax relief.Fiscal Year 2022 ended on June 30. Fiscal Year 2023 began on July 1. Fiscal […]

This week we want to remind Arkansans who receive Medicaid coverage to make sure their contact information is up to date. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government temporarily stopped some Medicaid requirements and conditions. This was done to help keep people with Medicaid from losing their health coverage during the pandemic. However, Arkansas will […]

The state has finished the Fiscal Year 2022 with a $1.628 billion revenue surplus. Read the June General Revenue Report and FY22 Summary in the link below: June 2022 General Revenue Report

There are currently more than 4,500 children in foster care state-wide.  Of those, 289 children are available for adoption. No child should linger in foster care with no sense of home or belonging. That’s why the Arkansas Department of Human Services works to reduce the obstacles that keep them from placing children with their forever […]

Research has shown that 90 percent of a person’s brain develops in the first five years of life. That’s why a child’s experiences and relationships during that time are critically important. Reading not only engages children and boosts brain development, but it also helps children and parents and children bond.That is why this year the […]

The State Capitol Offices and all State Buildings will be closed on Monday, July 4, 2022, to observe Independence Day. A legal holiday by authority of Act 304 of 2001 and amended by Act 561 of 2017. Official Bulletin

If you are someone you know is caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, we have some good news to share with you this week.The Arkansas Legislative Council recently approved the creation and funding for the Dementia Respite Care Pilot Program.This program provides $500 respite grants to enable caregivers to take a […]

With more than 800,000 visitors a year, the Buffalo National River is one of the leading tourist destinations in Arkansas.This year, the Buffalo National River celebrates its 50th anniversary as a unit of the National Park Service. Former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt and former Senators J. William Fulbright and John L. McClellan introduced the first […]